A report has revealed that the Israeli military failed to protect civilians during Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023, blaming years of misplaced confidence that the militant group could be contained through economic incentives and limited deterrence (via Reuters).
The investigation revealed that Israeli intelligence dismissed the possibility of a large-scale assault, focusing instead on threats from Hezbollah in Lebanon, which left border defences dangerously undermanned.
The report further noted that Israel's reliance on intelligence and physical barriers proved inadequate, allowing Hamas to launch a devastating incursion that resulted in 1,200 Israeli deaths and over 250 hostages.
Meanwhile, the conflict that followed has led to tens of thousands of Palestinian casualties, mass displacement, and mounting domestic calls for a full national inquiry into the government's handling of the crisis.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signalled that such a probe will have to wait until the war concludes. For now, it remains to be seen how Israel will address these security lapses in future conflicts.